GBIC with enhanced grounding

ABSTRACT

A giga-bit interface converter (GBIC) includes a die cast metal housing forming integral grounding tabs for adding stability and increasing ESD grounding path. The grounding tabs are provided on opposite sides of SCA-2 connector of the GBIC for electrically engaging grounding terminal of a matable female SCA-2 connector. Furthermore, grounding pads are formed on a circuit board of the GBIC for direct engagement with the conductive housing to complete a grounding path to electronics of the circuit board.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a giga-bit interface converter (GBIC) with enhanced grounding, and particularly to a GBIC having a metal die-cast housing forming integral grounding tabs on a single connector attachment (SCA)-2 connector end of the housing for adding mechanical stability and forming a grounding path for electro-static discharge (ESD) purposes. In addition, grounding pads have been added to a printed circuit board (PCB) for pushing against the housing to complete the grounding path to electronics. The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a GBIC with enhanced grounding.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] A GBIC is a high-speed data transfer switch that can be used to interconnect work stations, main frames, supercomputers and storage devices. It can be employed at various locations in a computer network where data is transferred in a giga bit level. A high-speed data transfer switching is used in many applications such as video on demand and interactive video, which require faster access to large data storage systems such as direct access storage devices (DASDs) and random access image devices (RAIDs).

[0005] An earlier invented GBIC 20 by the common inventors with this invention, which is related to the copending application 09/626,524, is shown in FIG. 1 of the attached drawings. The GBIC 20 includes input and output ports 135, 125 with optical subassemblies 375, 325 mounted therein for connection of electronics within a transceiver housing 110 to electrical or optical communication links. Additionally, the GBIC 20 includes a transceiver interface connector, such as a SCA- 2 connector 250 to mate with a female SCA- 2 connector. A PCB 425 is held by the optical subassemblies 375, 325 and the connector 250.

[0006] The GBIC 20 forms a plastic post 115 on each side of the SCA-2 connector 250 with a grounding clip 118 fixed thereon. The grounding clips 118, each with one end exposed to electrically engage with a grounding piece of an external electronic device mated with the connector 250, are electrically connected to the PCB 425 within the GBIC housing 110 to form a grounding path. Furthermore, it is well known that the operation of high-speed transceivers can produce undesirable electromagnetic interference (EMI) and radio-frequency or interference (RFI). To minimize EMI/RFI emissions, a conductive layer formed on the housing 110 is needed. The conductive layer is formed by metal plating, wet plating, or vacuum metalization, or alternatively it may be an aluminum or stainless steel sheet to dissipate an electrostatic discharge.

[0007] The above described conventional GBIC has several drawbacks. For example, its manufacture process is complicated and it provides a very limited grounding path.

[0008] Therefore, there is a need for a GBIC which has a simple structure and a large and effective grounding path.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a GBIC having a simple structure and a large and effective grounding path.

[0010] In accordance with the present invention, a GBIC is provided with a conductive housing made by die casing metallic material The GBIC comprises input and output ports at a first end of the housing, and an electrical connector, such as a SCA-2 connector, at a second end of the housing. The housing forms a pair of metal posts on opposite sides of the SCA-2 connector for engaging grounding terminals of a matable female SCA-2 connector. Furthermore, grounding traces are formed on a circuit board of the GBIC for direct electrical connection with the housing. Therefore, an effective grounding path is established and the manufacture process is simplified.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an earlier invented GBIC with a cover removed;

[0012]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a GBIC according to the present invention with a cover removed; and

[0013]FIG. 3 is an assembled view of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Reference will now be made to the drawings to describe the present invention in detail.

[0015] Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 2 and 3,a giga-bit interface converter (GBIC) constructed in accordance with the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral 10, is depicted. The GBIC 10 comprises a die-cast housing 100 made of a conductive material, such as metal, for receiving and housing optical subassemblies 300, 350, a printed circuit board (PCB) 400 and a single connector attachment (SCA)-2 connector 200. Preferably, a cover (not shown) is removably attached to the housing 100 for covering the parts encased in the housing 100.

[0016] The housing 100 of the GBIC 10 forms fiber optic duplex receptacles 120, 130 at a first end 140 and a pair of metal posts 150 at an opposite second end 160, each metal post 150 with a grounding tab 152 thereon for electrically engaging with a grounding piece of an external electronic device which is mated with the connector 200. The receptacles 120, 130 are specifically dimensioned to receive a fiber optic duplex plug (not shown). For example, an SC duplex plug may be inserted in the receptacle 120, 130 whereof the receptacle 120 receives a plug for sending data and the receptacle 130 receives a plug for receiving data. The grounding tabs 152 of the metal posts 150 are provided to mate with grounding terminals of a female SCA-2 connector (not shown) to establish a direct chassis grounding therebetween. In addition, the metal posts 150 also functions to mechanically reinforce the engagement between SCA-2 connector 200 and the female SCA-2 connector.

[0017] The optical subassembly 300 is positioned in the receptacle 120 for sending transmissions over a data link and the optical subassembly 350 is positioned in the receptacle 130 for receiving transmissions from a data link. preferably, transmission and receipt of optically encoded data are performed by a laser diode (not shown) located within the optical subassembly 300 and a photo diode (not shown) located within the optical subassembly 350. Both the laser diode and the photo diode are electrically connected to the PCB 400 fixed in the housing 100.

[0018] The PCB 400 has first and second ends 410, 420. Incorporated onto the PCB 400 is a circuitry (not shown) for transmitting and receiving optically encoded data. The optical subassemblies 300, 350 are mechanically and electrically connected to the first end 410 of the PCB 400. The SCA-2 connector 200 is mounted to the second end 420 of the PCB 400. Therefore, the PCB 400 is fixed between the optical subassemblies 300, 350 and the SCA-2 connector 200.

[0019] The PCB 400 comprises a pair of grounding pads 430 formed on along each side thereof. A recess 435 is defined between each pair of the grounding pads 430. In the embodiment illustrated, two projections (not labeled) are formed along each side of the PCB 400 defining the recess 435 therebetween. The grounding pads 430 are formed on the projections. Furthermore, a through hole 440 is defined in the PCB 400 with a grounding strip 450 provided therearound.

[0020] A pair of flat roofs 180 is formed on each side wall of the housing 100 to engage and support the grounding pads 430 of the PCB 400 thereon. Between the pair of the flat roofs 180 is a cylinder 185 to mate with the recess 435 of the PCB 400. On the bottom 170 of the housing 100, a post 190 is provided to mate with the grounding strip 450 of the PCB 400. A standoff column 195 with a hole 197 defined therein is formed on the post 190 and extending through the through hole 440 to receive a downwardly extending screw(not shown while can be referred to the aforementioned copending application Ser. No. 09/626,524).

[0021] The PCB 400 together with the optical subassemblies 300, 350 and the SCA-2 connector 200 is mounted within the housing 100 by being supported by the flat roofs 180 and the post 190 with the optical subassemblies 300, 350 received in the receptacles 120, 130, and the SCA-2 connector 200 sandwiched between the metal posts 150. The grounding pads 430 physically engage the flat roofs 180 and the grounding strip 450 electrically contacts the post 190 thereby establishing a large and effective grounding path between the PCB 400 and the conductive housing 100.

[0022] It is noted that different from the earlier design (FIG. 1) in which the post 115 and the associated grounding clip(tab) 118 are a part of the connector 250 requiring to electrically connect to the grounding circuit of the printed circuit board 425, differently in the instant invention the post 150 and the associated grounding tab 152 are integrally formed with the conductive housing 100 for at lest either providing better mechanical enhancement of mating (with the complementary connector) or creating better electrical direct chassis grounding, or both.

[0023] While a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention has been shown and described, equivalent modifications and changes known to persons skilled in the art according to the spirit of the present invention are considered within the scope of the present invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A giga-bit interface converter comprising: a conductive housing having first and second ends; a printed circuit board having first and second ends mounted in the conductive housing; optical subassemblies mechanically and electrically connected to the first end of the circuit board for performing conversion between an external optical signal and an electrical signal of the circuit board; and an electrical connector mounted to the second end of the circuit board and adapted to engage an external electrical device; wherein the housing forms grounding tabs at the second end thereof adapted to electrically engage and thus ground with the external electrical device.
 2. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 1, wherein the grounding tabs of the housing are adapted to be engageable with grounding terminals of the external electrical device.
 3. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 2, wherein the grounding tabs form a direct chassis grounding.
 4. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 1, wherein the circuit board forms at least one grounding trace engaging the housing to complete a grounding path.
 5. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 1, wherein the housing forms receptacles at the first end for mounting the optical subassemblies and for receiving an external fiber optic device.
 6. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 5, wherein the receptacles are configured for receiving fiber optic SC duplex plugs.
 7. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 1, wherein the optical subassemblies comprise a transmitting portion and a receiving portion adapted to engage a fiber optic plug assembly for bi-directional transmission of signal.
 8. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 1, wherein the electrical connector comprises a SCA-2 connector.
 9. A giga-bit interface converter comprising: a conductive housing having first and second ends; a circuit board having first and second ends mounted in the conductive housing; optical subassemblies mechanically and electrically connected to the first end of the circuit board for performing conversion between an external optical signal and an electrical signal of the circuit board; and an electrical connector mounted to the second end of the circuit board and adapted to engage an external electrical device; wherein at least one grounding trace is formed on the circuit board for engaging the housing to form a grounding path.
 10. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 9, wherein the housing forms grounding tabs at the second end thereof.
 11. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 10, wherein the grounding tabs of the housing are adapted to be electrically engageable with grounding terminals of the external device.
 12. The giga-bit interface converter as described in claim 11, wherein the grounding tabs create a direct chassis grounding.
 13. A method of manufacturing a giga-bit interface converter comprising the steps of: (1) providing a conductive housing having first and second ends; (2) providing receptacles at the first end of the housing for mounting optical subassemblies and receiving matable plugs; (3) providing a circuit board having first and second ends; (4) mounting the first end of the circuit board to the optical subassemblies; (5) providing an electrical connector; (6) mounting the electrical connector to the second end of the circuit board, thereby fixing the circuit board between the optical subassemblies and the electrical connector; (7) forming grounding tabs at the second end of the housing for electrically grounding with an external device to create a direct chassis grounding; and (8) providing at least one grounding trace on the circuit for direct electrical connection with the housing to create a grounding path therebetween.
 14. An electronic device comprising: a housing defining opposite first an second ends thereof; an electrical connector positioned at one of said first and second ends; said housing defining a pair of posts by two sides of said connector; wherein said pair of posts cooperate with the connector for stably together mating with a complementary connector.
 15. The device as described in claim 14, wherein said housing is conductive.
 16. The device as described in claim 15, wherein a grounding tab is formed on each of said pair of posts for engagement with a grounding terminal of said complementary connector.
 17. The device as described in claim 15, wherein a printed circuit board is mounted in said housing with grounding devices electrically connected to said housing to establish a grounding path. 